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May 22, 2012

Rangers 3, Mariners 1 (F)

SEATTLE -- Matt Harrison recovered from a 35-pitch first inning Tuesday night to allow only run in seven-plus innings, and Elvis Andrus and Josh Hamilton had critical two-out hits in the third inning as the Rangers squeaked past Seattle 3-1.

Harrison (5-3) allowed the only Mariners run in the first, an inning that included two walks, two singles and a spectacular running catch by Hamilton in center field to end the threat.

But Harrison navigated the second, third and fourth innings in only 25 pitches, dodged trouble in the fifth, and retired seven of the next eight batters.

He returned for the eighth at 106 pitches, and Alex Liddi and Ichiro Suzuki opened with back to-back singles. Mike Adams replaced Harrison, and got Jesus Montero to fly out and struck out Justin Smoak and Kyle Seager on full-count pitches that tailed out of the strike zone.

Joe Nathan, who had blown a save April 11 to the Mariners at Rangers Ballpark, worked a 1-2-3 ninth for his 10th save.

Andrus and Hamilton erased the Rangers’ early deficit against Hector Noesi, who had walked two in the third but had two outs before surrendering a two-run triple to Andrus.

Hamilton followed with an RBI double, but that would be just about it for the Rangers’ offense as Noesi retired 16 of the next 17 batters.